Monday, February 16, 2009

U.K. gay rights groups are calling on an end to the discriminatory policy of the National Blood Service in barring gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

The ban should apply to people who engage in risky activity but should not make assumptions based on sexual orientation. As it stands a monogamous gay man is banned, but a high-risk heterosexual has no obstacles in donating blood.

Please contact the NBS and tell them the policy needs to change in order to stop the discriminatory behavior and stigmatization of men who have sex with men, and to ensure that there are more blood donors in an already small pool of people who are willing to donate.